DEVELOPMENTS AT NIST Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have developed a number of new devices and methods involving a variety of technologies. In certain cases, other parties have participated in the development of these technologies. NIST may enter into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with interested parties to perform further research on the invention for purposes of commercialization. NIST may grant CRADA Partners an option to negotiate for exclusive licenses to any jointly owned inventions which arise from the CRADA as well as an option to negotiate for exclusive royalty-bearing licenses for NIST employee inventions which arise from the CRADA. Anyone interested in the further development of any of these technologies or in applying for a license to commercialize these technologies shall send a written request for further information, referencing the NIST Docket Number and Title, to: National Institute of Standards and Technology, Office of Technology Partnerships, Building 820, Room 213, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899; Telecopy: 301-869-2751. This is not an announcement of a contract action or grant. NIST DOCKET NUMBER: 99-016PA, Title: Device For Stable Speed Determination in Machining, Description: The device utilizes a non-contact force actuator to drive a machine-tool with a train of impulsive forces having a known, time-varying frequency to identify the speeds least likely to produce chatter (regenerative vibrations). This can be done in real time without the need for exhaustive cutting tests. The machine-tool spindle and a non-contact magnetic force actuator are used to produce the time-varying impulse train. This impulse train has significant energy at the spindle speed and its harmonics. As the spindle speed is ramped up from zero to the maximum speed, those speeds that maximize the dynamic response of the tool are the speeds that minimize regenerative chatter. The device is suitable for integration with the machine-tool controller, and could potentially allow the optimal speeds for each tool to be downloaded and stored for later use in NC programming. WEB: NIST Contracts Homepage, http://www.nist.gov/admin/od/contract/contract.htm. E-MAIL: NIST Contracts Office, Contract@nist.gov. Posted 06/10/99 (W-SN341290).

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